IOP member signs up for London Marathon to fundraise for IOP for Africa

2 March 2011

IOP member Dr Andrew Stannard, a research fellow at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nottingham, will be running the 2011 London Marathon in aid of IOP for Africa, IOP’s first ever fundraising campaign.

IOP member Dr Andrew Stannard, a research fellow at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nottingham, will be running the 2011 London Marathon in aid of IOP for Africa, IOP’s first ever fundraising campaign.

The project, which aims to generate funds for projects in sub-Saharan countries training physics teachers and providing vital equipment to schools (as part of IOP’s Physics for Development programme), has so far raised over £18,000 since its launch in December 2010.

Andrew, who will be running the marathon on 17 April, hopes to raise a four-figure sum at least.

Andrew said, “In December I knew I had a place in the London Marathon and I was looking for a charity to raise money for. Although there are numerous worthy charities out there, I wanted to find one that I had a personal connection with. As soon as I received an e-mail promoting the IOP for Africa campaign, I knew the search was over.

“In the 21st century education is a basic human right. However, in parts of the developing world it is simple not possible for people to access the quality of education which they have a right to. Hopefully, in years to come, geographical location won’t determine people’s opportunities so much, and we will have campaigns such as IOP for Africa to thank.

“I’ve run a few half-marathons before, but never a full one, and I don’t intend to run another ever again. The London Marathon raises tens of millions of pounds for charity every year, and I thought it only right to do my part. As a physicist, IOP for Africa is exactly the kind of cause which I can really get behind. Plus, focussing on the good that will be done with the money I’ll have raised will provide a huge psychological benefit to keep me going during the race.”